Mountain Lion Captured After Wandering Into San Francisco Neighborhood

The 2-year-old male was safely apprehended after getting stuck between two apartment buildings.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 9:47pm by Ben Kaplan

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A young mountain lion was spotted prowling around the upscale Pacific Heights neighborhood in San Francisco late Monday night. After a multi-agency response, officials were able to tranquilize the 77-pound animal and remove it from between two apartment buildings where it had become stuck. The mountain lion, identified as a 2-year-old male, will be released back into its native habitat in the South Bay area.

Why it matters

Mountain lion sightings in San Francisco are extremely rare, with only a few incidents in recent years. This case highlights the city's ongoing efforts to coexist with its diverse urban wildlife, from coyotes and sea lions to parrots and alligators. The capture of this mountain lion also raises questions about how and why the young animal ventured so far from its natural habitat.

The details

After receiving an alert about the mountain lion sighting, San Francisco officials, including police, firefighters, animal control, and state wildlife agents, responded to the scene on California Street. They found the frightened animal had wedged itself between two apartment buildings. Authorities were able to tranquilize the mountain lion with several darts before safely removing it and transporting it in a metal cage for evaluation. The mountain lion was determined to be healthy and will be released back into its native habitat in the South Bay area.

  • The mountain lion was first spotted by residents around 11:30 PM on Monday, January 27, 2026.
  • Officials located the mountain lion and began the capture operation around 1:30 AM on Tuesday, January 28, 2026.
  • The mountain lion was successfully removed from between the apartment buildings and transported away by early morning on January 28, 2026.

The players

Jessica Fajardo

A 35-year-old tech worker whose apartment overlooked the scene where the mountain lion was captured.

Cassandra Costello

The interim co-chief executive of the San Francisco Zoo, who commented on the public's fascination with urban wildlife incidents in the city.

Chloe Safier

A neighbor who watched the mountain lion capture unfold and was late to a work meeting because of the incident.

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What they’re saying

“I've seen a lot of coyotes and have gotten used to cohabitating with them, but definitely a mountain lion is next level.”

— Jessica Fajardo, Tech worker (nytimes.com)

“Animals are a great distraction from everyday life, so a mountain lion walking on city streets is something that really mesmerizes the public.”

— Cassandra Costello, Interim co-chief executive, San Francisco Zoo (nytimes.com)

“More than anything, I wanted this little cub to get home to his family.”

— Chloe Safier, Neighbor (nytimes.com)

What’s next

Officials said the plan is to release the mountain lion back into its native habitat in the South Bay area, hoping that its visit to San Francisco was a one-time occurrence.

The takeaway

This incident highlights San Francisco's unique coexistence with urban wildlife, from coyotes and sea lions to parrots and alligators. While mountain lion sightings in the city are extremely rare, the capture and relocation of this young male underscores the city's ongoing efforts to balance public safety with preserving the natural habitats of its animal residents.